“THE OTHER HALF OF THE TEAM“ 1950s MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY PSA JERRY LEWIS ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL XD81185
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“The Other Half Of The Team” is a color, PSA-style video raising awareness and calling for funds to support research and treatment efforts for Muscular Dystrophy from the 1950s. Presented by the Muscular Dystrophy Associations of America (MDAA), INC and produced by Brooks Institute of Photography under the supervision of Rodney F. Atsatt MD. from the Santa Barbara chapter of MDAA, this film sheds light on the suffering faced by children as they go from active and healthy to lethargic and struggling. Narrated by Mr. Ronald Colman, the film features footage from in an around Santa Barbara, California and highlights the treatments made available by the St. Francis Hospital. The film also feature comedian Jerry Lewis (1931-2017) who was known all over the world as a champion of finding a cure for MD. Through his work with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), Lewis supported fundraising for muscular dystrophy research and hosted The Jerry Lewis Telethon. Lewis starred in 60 movies and directed 13.
American comedian, actor, singer, filmmaker and humanitarian Jerry Lewis sits on stool and addresses audience (0:07). Example of envelope addressed to . (0:55). Opening credits overlaid footage of small waves crashing into sandy shore of beach (1:08). Camera pans harbor, Santa Barbara, California skyline (1:56). Santa Barbara Courthouse and Clock Tower (2:21). Santa Barbara Courthouse neoclassical archway leading to the Sunken Garden; view through archway of mountain peaks and tall pine tree (2:31). Residential areas of Santa Barbara: modest family homes, luxury Spanish-Colonial style mansions (2:41). Young kids play during recess hour at school, run around and play tag, tether ball, see-saw (2:52). Stephen Taylor, young boy with MD, sits in wheelchair in outdoor courtyard with his mother and siblings (3:18). Stephen’s Story: reenactment footage of him running around front yard with playmates, continuously falls to pavement as he tries to keep up (3:50). A “young” Stephen tries to crawl up set of outdoor stairs, close-up swollen uneven calf muscles (4:17). Doctor in White lab coat meets with Stephen’s mother as he delivers diagnosis; mother wears beige 1950s A-line coat, white gloves, and large pearl accessories (4:55). Living with MD, scenes of Stephen’s daily life: Mother sits with Stephen in dining area of home, Stephen sits in wheelchair as mother spoon feeds him his meal (5:49). Stephen struggles to do simple activities usually meant for toddlers (6:32). Stephen’s mother comes into his room and helps turn him over in his bed (7:07). Exterior of St. Francis Hospital in Santa Barbara (8:20). Nurses wheel MD patient into rehabilitative pool area of hospital for treatment; hoist machine slowly lifts young boy from gurney and lowers him into pool, close up view of legs that have totally atrophied (8:26). Boy smiles as he moves legs in pool with help of physical therapist; physical therapist places boy on plinth/ table and does abdominal exercises with him (9:15). Physical therapist aids 60 year old patient in pool with arm exercises (10:11). Nurse uses assistance device: patient lift and sling to hoist young boy from wheelchair onto treatment table (10:49). Nurse works with woman on walking exercises and getting up and down from mat (11:36). Ricky, most severe case, is gently lifted by physical therapist onto treatment table where she tries to stretch his skeletal frame (12:32). Narrator’s closing words, final plea for donations, Stephen and siblings in front garden of their home (13:51).
In 1908 the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart opened the St. Francis Hospital in Santa Barbara. Their mission was to provide quality medical care, with special emphasis on those people most in need. The St. Francis Hospital closed its doors permanently in 2003, although the St. Francis Foundation continues under the auspices of Dignity Health.
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit